Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata (2011) 139, 154-160

Aaron M. Dickey and Raul F. Medina (2011)
Lack of sequential radiation in a parasitoid of a host-associated aphid
Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 139 (2), 154-160
Abstract: Sequential radiation occurs when novel biodiversity at low trophic levels 'cascades' up to high trophic levels generating further biodiversity. When putatively generalist herbivore species comprise host-plant specialized populations, sequential radiation can be tested for their parasites and predators. We tested for sequential radiation in Aphelinus perpallidus Gahan (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae), a parasitoid wasp of the yellow pecan aphid, Monelliopsis pecanis Bissel (Hemiptera: Drepanosiphidae). This aphid has been shown to consist of at least two genetically distinct host-tree-associated populations, one feeding on pecan, Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh.) K. Koch (Juglandaceae), and one feeding on water hickory, Carya aquatica (Michx. f.) Nutt. We found that this wasp consists of three genetically distinct populations with unique molecular phenotypes, but these populations did not correspond to host-plant species of origin. Collecting site accounted for 20% of the molecular variance found. Sequential radiation may be less common in aphid parasitoids than in other parasitoid groups because of specific aspects of their biology, namely parasitization of externally feeding hosts, multivoltinism, and learned habitat preference.
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Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Raul F. Medina, Aaron M. Dickey

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
general biology - morphology - evolution
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
general biology - morphology - evolution
molecular biology - genes

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Monelliopsis pecanis	Pecan/hickory (Carya)
Aphelinus perpallidus (parasitoid)	Monelliopsis pecanis	Pecan/hickory (Carya)